Jared Donalson Novels & Stories

The entire estate fell silent. Every guest’s gaze fixed on Vincenzo as he stormed in. He wore a black suit streaked with dust, his hair plastered to his forehead, red veins spreading across bloodshot eyes. In his hand was the misshapen leather bag, battered and worn, making him look utterly defeated. It was an image unrecognizable compared to the once‑imperious Don Corleone. “Vincenzo, you dare make a scene at Ella’s engagement?”

“My Mamma isn’t dead! You have no right to say that she is!” The living room fell silent for a moment. Donna Moretti hesitated before looking at Father. “Don Vitale… this is…?” Father’s face looked as cold and hard as iron, his voice completely emotionless as he said, “A servant’s child.” My entire body froze. It was true that he had already announced to the outside world that Bianca was his only daughter. At school, Bianca had always told everyone that I was the daughter of a servant, too.

"When you were looking at that magazine, your eyes were glued to this ring. Couldn't look away." "So I bought it for you." There was a smile playing at the corner of his mouth. He had no idea I'd only stared at the ring so he could pay off his debt faster. The cold of the diamond crept up my finger and into my chest. I shivered. But he didn't need my help. Did he? The voice on the phone had just called him Don. The Angelo I knew was a broke kid drowning in mob debt. What a joke. "Three whole years," My voice came out cold. "A Don playing dirt-poor with me. Was it fun?"

He probably hadn't expected the same young woman who'd once knelt in front of him to be lecturing him as Donna of his own family. His eyes went cold. "Liana. You think you're really the Donna?" "Don't think I'm fighting alone. I speak for the elders." "Lorenzo is my son. You think he's going to side with you over me?" I crushed the cigar out and kept my voice light. "You can ask him. See what he picks." "I've got time. You, on the other hand." I glanced at him. Smiled wider. "You're running out. Time's on my side. Not yours."

He took my innocence. I took his secret heirs. Now, he’s back to claim us both. Seven years ago, I gave everything to Lord Andrew—my body, my heart, and my innocence—in a night of unspeakable heat and sweet lies. When I caught him betraying me, I vanished into the dark, raising his twin sons alone while building an empire of my own as a top criminal defense lawyer. Now, a multi-billion-dollar hit on my sons' inheritance forces us face-to-face once more. Andrew is taller, deadlier, and completely untamed. He knows the boys are his, and he's using every dirty trick in the book to pull me back into his dark world. I promised myself I’d resist the intense, intoxicating heat that flares between u

He spins the laptop so we can see the screen. Grainy CCTV from a fuel station two blocks away. Timestamp: 01:12. A black SUV pulls in. Driver stays inside. Passenger steps out—tall, charcoal suit, hair parted in the middle. Gideon. He buys nothing. Just stands under the fluorescent lights for ninety seconds—face clearly visible—then gets back in. The SUV leaves. “He’s showing us he’s here,” Zara says. “He wants us to know.” Leo doesn’t turn from the window. “He’s baiting us.”

One voice cut through the others like a blade. “…the shipment routes are compromised. If Enzo thinks he can run his own plays behind my back, he’s more stupid than I gave him credit for.” My stomach dropped. That voice. Deep, controlled, laced with quiet fury. I’d only heard it a handful of times—at family dinners Enzo dragged me to, always from across the room. Dante Moretti. Enzo’s father. The Don. I froze, glass halfway to my lips again. What the hell was he doing here? Enzo said this was our night. Private.

I'll never let anything hurt you again. "The family, the title, all of it can be yours. I'll step down as Don if that's what you want. We can walk away from the Mafia, from all of it." I listened quietly until he finished, then I took a small sip of my coffee and calmly replied, "Cesare, it's too late." "It's not too late." Cesare grabbed my hand. "We still have a future. If you come back to me, I'll give you anything."

No expert worth their salt would conclude otherwise. Feeling smug, he turned to Don to offer fake comfort. “Hey, chin up! Eliott obviously did not mean this. I’m sure everyone knows this. It’s too bad he made a fool out of himself simply because he’s a little too slow and trusting. But it’s not his fault, right?” Don gritted his teeth so hard they could have turned into powder. And yet, all he could do was force a smile as he looked back at Jared. His son had done something so catastrophic that he could not even bristle.

They furrow their brows, confused. “I’m getting a sperm donor.” “That’s…” Zara seems lost for words. “No, no, no—hell no,” Jaden yells, as if he can stop me. “I’m a grown woman, Zane. I make my own decisions. Who are you to tell me no?” “But, Imoto…” “No buts. I’m doing it, and I need your support,” I insist. He comes over and hugs me. “I love you, and I support you if you’re certain.”